# Veterinarians

US SOC code 29-1131. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/29-1131

Also called: DVM, VMD, Vet, Small animal veterinarian, Companion animal veterinarian.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **83,900** US veterinarians, with median pay of **$130,100** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2013-07-15/one-history-books) of **8,000** from 1900, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for veterinarians: Digital PIMS, telehealth platforms, and electronic diagnostics integration, 2000 to 2020.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 9.4% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-1131&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **23%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Veterinarians employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1863
- Latest US employment: 83,900 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [3]
- Latest US median pay: $130,100 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [8]
- Outlook: +9.4% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [25]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **Canada** (NOC 31103)
  - Employment, 2020: 10,865. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [6]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021: number of persons with employment income in NOC 31103 Veterinarians, Canada, reference year 2020. A recipients basis (anyone with employment income during the year), slightly broader than a point-in-time employed count. Statistics Canada Open Licence.
  - Median pay, 2020: C$96,000. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [12]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 (Table 98-10-0586): median employment income for NOC 31103 Veterinarians, Canada, reference year 2020, full-year full-time workers (the basis comparable to the US OEWS full-time median). Statistics Canada Open Licence.

### All 29 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1900 | 8,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., AVMA JAVMA 2013 [1] |
| 1920 | 14,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., AVMA JAVMA 2013 [1] |
| 1950 | n/a | $7,374 (estimate) | Est., AVMA JAVMA 2013 [7] |
| 1954 | 19,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., AVMA JAVMA 2013 [1] |
| 1955 | n/a | $10,694 (estimate) | Est., AVMA JAVMA 2013 [7] |
| 1985 | 46,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., AVMA JAVMA-News 2015 [2] |
| 2003 | 43,890 | $64,750 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [3] |
| 2004 | 46,090 | $66,590 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [3] |
| 2005 | 47,870 | $68,910 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [3] |
| 2006 | 49,750 | $71,990 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [3] |
| 2007 | 50,790 | $75,230 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [3] |
| 2008 | 53,110 | $79,050 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [3] |
| 2009 | 54,130 | $80,510 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [3] |
| 2010 | 54,480 | $82,040 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [3] |
| 2011 | 55,410 | $82,900 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [3] |
| 2012 | 56,020 | $84,460 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [3] |
| 2013 | 59,230 | $86,640 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [3] |
| 2014 | 62,470 | $87,590 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [3] |
| 2015 | 65,650 | $88,490 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [3] |
| 2016 | 67,650 | $88,770 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [3] |
| 2017 | 69,370 | $90,420 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [3] |
| 2018 | 71,060 | $93,830 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [3] |
| 2019 | 74,540 | $95,460 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [3] |
| 2020 | 73,710 | $99,250 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [3] |
| 2021 | 77,260 | $100,370 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [3] |
| 2022 | 78,810 | $103,260 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [3] |
| 2023 | 78,220 | $119,100 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [3] |
| 2024 | 80,630 | $125,510 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [3] |
| 2025 | 83,900 | $130,100 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [3] |

## Sources (90)

### Employment series

1. [AVMA JAVMA 2013 — "One for the history books": 8,000 veterinarians in 1900, 80% equine work](https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2013-07-15/one-history-books), American Veterinary Medical Association
2. [AVMA JAVMA-News 2015: 1985-1995 decade review — 1985 first year 51% of AVMA members in small animal practice; women outnumber men in vet schools by fall 1985](https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2015-10-01/1985-1995), American Veterinary Medical Association
3. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
4. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
5. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
6. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Wage series

7. [AVMA JAVMA 2013 — "One for the history books": first AVMA salary surveys 1952/1956; mean net income $7,374 in 1950](https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2013-07-15/one-history-books), American Veterinary Medical Association
8. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
9. [BLS OEWS May 2024, national cross-industry estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
10. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
11. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
12. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Tool eras

13. [AVMA — "A history of veterinary medicine as America celebrates its 250th anniversary" (foundational practice era)](https://www.avma.org/news/history-veterinary-medicine-america-celebrates-its-250th-anniversary), American Veterinary Medical Association
14. [MSU College of Veterinary Medicine — "Veterinary Medicine in the USA: War Drives Creation of Veterinary Schools" (pre-pharmaceutical veterinary practice)](https://cvm.msu.edu/vetschool-tails/veterinary-medicine-in-the-usa-war-drives-creation-of-veterinary-schools), Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine
15. [Oakland Veterinary Referral Services — "A Brief History of Veterinary Medicine" (antibiotics and modern pharmaceuticals)](https://www.ovrs.com/blog/history-of-veterinary-medicine/), Oakland Veterinary Referral Services
16. [AVMA — History of the AVMA (pharmaceutical regulation and AAHA founding context)](https://www.avma.org/about/history-avma), American Veterinary Medical Association
17. [AVMA JAVMA-News 2015: 1985-1995 decade review — companion animal majority, specialty board growth, and first female leadership](https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2015-10-01/1985-1995), American Veterinary Medical Association
18. [AVMA Historical Timeline — specialty certification history (AVMA recognized first specialty 1949; AVMA 150th anniversary reference)](https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2013-03-01/historical-timeline-charts-professions-evolution), American Veterinary Medical Association
19. [IDEXX Laboratories — VetConnect PLUS in-clinic diagnostics dashboard (IDEXX product history)](https://www.idexx.com/en/veterinary/software-services/vetconnect-plus/), IDEXX Laboratories
20. [Fortune Business Insights — Veterinary Telemedicine Market: $746.87M (2025) projected to $3.34B by 2034 at 18.12% CAGR](https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/veterinary-telemedicine-market-112176), Fortune Business Insights
21. [AVMA — "Building a Framework for Responsible AI in Veterinary Medicine" (2025): AI as decision support, not autonomous clinical judgment](https://www.avma.org/news/building-framework-responsible-ai-veterinary-medicine), American Veterinary Medical Association
22. [ACVR/ECVDI Position Statement (JAVMA Vol. 263 Issue 6, Apr 2025) — no commercial veterinary AI imaging product meets full validation standards; veterinarian must remain in the loop](https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/263/6/javma.25.01.0027.xml), JAVMA / American College of Veterinary Radiology
23. [SignalPET 360 launch (Business Wire, September 2025) — AI reports on 63 pathologies within 5 minutes; 2,500+ clinics; 20 million+ images processed](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250902632641/en/SignalPET-Introduces-SignalPET-360-A-Comprehensive-Radiology-Platform-Designed-for-Modern-Veterinary-Practice), Business Wire / SignalPET
24. [Zoetis — AI Masses launched June 2, 2025: in-clinic cytology AI for lymph node and skin/subcutaneous FNA, results in minutes](https://news.zoetis.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2025/Zoetis-Launches-AI-Masses-the-New-AI-Powered-Cytologic-Capability-for-Vetscan-Imagyst-2025-YhrB1kjmLg/default.aspx), Zoetis

### Forecasts and exposure studies

25. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 29-1131 Veterinarians (2025: 91.1 thousand; 2035: 99.6 thousand; +9.4%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-1131&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
26. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 29-1131.00, human-rated β 0.23)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

27. [AVMA — History of the AVMA (founding in 1863, USVMA to AVMA 1898)](https://www.avma.org/about/history-avma), American Veterinary Medical Association
28. [MSU College of Veterinary Medicine — "Veterinary Medicine in the USA: War Drives Creation of Veterinary Schools"](https://cvm.msu.edu/vetschool-tails/veterinary-medicine-in-the-usa-war-drives-creation-of-veterinary-schools), Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine
29. [Wikipedia — Bureau of Animal Industry (founding 1884; Daniel Elmer Salmon first director)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Animal_Industry), Wikipedia
30. [AVMA JAVMA 2013 — "One for the history books": 8,000 veterinarians in 1900, 80% equine](https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2013-07-15/one-history-books), American Veterinary Medical Association
31. [HubPages — "James Herriot: The Man Who Inspired Many Veterinarians" (Herriot books and veterinary career surge)](https://hubpages.com/literature/james-herriot-the-man-who-inspired-many-veterinarians), HubPages
32. [AVMA JAVMA-News 2015: 1985-1995 decade review — 51% in small animal practice; women outnumber men in vet schools by fall 1985](https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2015-10-01/1985-1995), American Veterinary Medical Association
33. [AVMA — U.S. veterinarian numbers 2025: 133,475 total; gender breakdown by year available](https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/reports-statistics/market-research-statistics-us-veterinarians), American Veterinary Medical Association

### Predecessors & successors

34. [Revolutionary War Journal — "Early History of Veterinary Medicine and Colonial Animal Caregivers" (farriers as first de facto US veterinarians)](https://revolutionarywarjournal.com/early-history-of-veterinary-medicine-colonial-animal-caregivers/), Revolutionary War Journal

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Veterinarians (29-1131.00): tasks, work activities, technology skills, employment data](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1131.00), accessed 2026-05-24
- [BLS OOH — Veterinarians: 86,400 employed (2024); 10% growth projected 2024-2034 (much faster than average); median annual wage $125,510 (May 2024)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinarians.htm), accessed 2026-05-24
- [AVMA — Building a Framework for Responsible AI in Veterinary Medicine: AI as decision support; AVMA Task Force on Emerging Technologies; automation bias and explainability as key risks (2025)](https://www.avma.org/news/building-framework-responsible-ai-veterinary-medicine), accessed 2026-05-24
- [ACVR/ECVDI Position Statement (JAVMA Vol. 263, Issue 6, Apr 2025) — AI must adhere to good ML practices; veterinarian required to remain in the loop; no current commercial veterinary AI imaging product meets full transparency/validation standards](https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/263/6/javma.25.01.0027.xml), accessed 2026-05-24
- [AAVSB AI Guidance Whitepaper (Aug 2025) — AI use requires valid VCPR; state practice act compliance; veterinarian bears full liability for AI-assisted clinical decisions](https://www.aavsb.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/AAVSB-AI-Guidance-Whitepaper01122026-2.pdf), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science): occupational LLM exposure framework](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-24
- [ScribbleVet — AI scribe for veterinarians: SOAP notes, dental charts, client Care Cards, PIMS integration with ezyVet/Pulse/Vetspire; veterinary-tuned models (ScribbleVet.com, accessed 2026-05-24)](https://www.scribblevet.com/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Digitail Tails AI — AI SOAP Dictation + 20 AI workflows; saves ~70 min/day in admin time; voice-to-invoice capture; 40+ integrations (Digitail.com, accessed 2026-05-24)](https://digitail.com/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [VetSoftwareHub 2026 — "Veterinary AI" search volume grew 1,680% YoY 2024-2025; practices shifting from "whether to adopt" to "which tool to choose" for AI documentation](https://www.vetsoftwarehub.com/article/veterinary-ai-scribe-pricing-comparison-2026), accessed 2026-05-24
- [SignalPET 360° (launched Sept 2025) — 2,500+ clinics; 7,000+ clinicians; 63 critical pathologies; 5-min AI report; 40+ staff radiologists for signed reports at 1-hour or 12-hour turnaround (SignalPET.com; Business Wire Sept 2025)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250902632641/en/SignalPET-Introduces-SignalPET-360-A-Comprehensive-Radiology-Platform-Designed-for-Modern-Veterinary-Practice), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Antech AIS RapidRead — trained on world's largest companion animal imaging library; developed by 20+ board-certified radiologists; near-instantaneous AI radiology reports; 5,000-case pilot 2023 (Antech press release Apr 2024)](https://www.antechdiagnostics.com/2024/04/11/antechs-breakthrough-ai-powered-radiology-and-targeted-cancer-screening-tools-now-available-unleashing-new-chapter-for-veterinary-diagnostics/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Fortune Business Insights — Veterinary Telemedicine Market $746.87M (2025), projected $3.34B by 2034 at 18.12% CAGR; AI triage achieved 31% faster case prioritization in U.S. chain pilot (2024)](https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/veterinary-telemedicine-market-112176), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Pawp — membership telehealth platform connecting pet owners with licensed veterinarians via chat/video; triage-first workflow; AI routes to live vet for real-time guidance (Pawp.com, accessed 2026-05-24)](https://pawp.com/), accessed 2026-05-24

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.